Chapter 44: I Have Known You for Many Years

“What do you mean, you?” Lin Shenlu asked curiously.

“This story is written by me… I wrote eleven stories, but I couldn’t have been the first to be picked up, could I? Are the other bottles fake?” Ye Yaochen said excitedly.

“Could it be fate? Xiao Ai picked up my bottle on her first try… this must be love!” Ye Yaochen clenched his fist.

“Stop teasing me. Is Ye Dongfeng your pseudonym?” Lin Shenlu laughed.

“Yes… I couldn’t use just one name for all eleven stories… Ye Dongfeng, South Wind, West Wind, North Wind, Ye Hongzhong, Fortune, White Tile… Ye Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… exactly eleven,” Ye Yaochen explained.

“Impressive.”

…

In the livestream room, the ethereal Hailan Whale narrated Ye Dongfeng’s story with a gentle voice.

Her voice, pure and melodious, matched her delicate, snow-like beauty and was utterly captivating.

On camera, her deep blue hair shimmered like a dream, and her long lashes framed those mesmerizing blue eyes that fluttered with every blink.

Perhaps at this moment, the storyteller herself was more enchanting than the story she told.

“I met Su Qing on Momo… It was my third afternoon in Dali… I sat alone in the Time Bar, sipping beer. She was a tourist, too… She was alone, just like me.”

“Her lips were beautiful, the strawberry hue I adore…”

“That afternoon, we drank countless beers together and shared many stories…”

“We circled Erhai Lake together, admiring the wind, the flowers, the snow, and the moon…”

“We went together to the Ideal Utopia by the shores of Erhai…”

“That night… I gently kissed her lips, tasting the strawberry flavor I loved.”

…

As Hailan Whale narrated the story with heartfelt seriousness, Lin Shenlu suddenly looked up and questioned Ye Yaochen.

“Wait, didn’t you just say that Xiao Ai’s mango flavor was your favorite?”

“Uh…” Ye Yaochen was caught off guard.

“Is it wrong for me to like all kinds of fruit flavors?”

“And didn’t you say you always sealed the deal on the same day you met girls? How come this one took three or four days, circling Erhai before you even kissed her?” Lin Shenlu sounded skeptical.

“Come on, what do you expect from me? Should I write about meeting in the afternoon and sleeping together that night? Is this a romance novel or a steamy one? What’s there to write about in just an afternoon? I had to enrich the story a bit!” Ye Yaochen was also feeling a little exasperated…

Would awkward moments like this keep happening ten more times in the future?

…

Night fell.

It grew deeper.

Those who had completed their work were filled with excitement.

Hailan Whale’s livestream had broken her personal record for viewership for the first time…

From the teaser video yesterday to today’s bottle-dropping and bottle-fishing videos, plus the flood of new fans during the live broadcast, in just two days, Hailan Whale had gained three hundred thousand new followers…

It was astonishing.

How long had it been since she’d seen her fan count soar so wildly?

No wonder so many influencers shift their focus when their follower numbers stagnate.

This gimmick—this scene—was destined to become a classic.

This livestream had truly brought a new spark to Dali.

She could already see the wishing pool video occasionally popping up in the circles of friends she hadn’t contacted for ages.

“Everyone, go home and get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, dinner’s on me!” Hailan Whale called out to the staff.

“And… Xiao Ai, we’ll talk about our matter tomorrow. You’ve worked hard today, and don’t worry, you’re famous now.” Hailan Whale smiled.

As long as Xiao Ai had no plans of leaving, she’d do just fine as the resident mermaid here.

At this, Ye Yaochen stood up as well.

“Buddy, I’m taking Xiao Ai out for a walk. Won’t be back tonight. If my room fee is due tomorrow, help me renew it, will you? You know me.” Ye Yaochen’s eyes twinkled.

“You beast,” Lin Shenlu snorted softly.

“Got enough money on you?” Lin Shenlu added.

“Of course! I just withdrew a thousand yuan; if I spend even a cent more, call me a dog,” Ye Yaochen replied.

…

Within minutes, the once lively courtyard fell quiet again.

Some went to bed, some went home.

The guests, satisfied with their photos, returned to their lodgings.

Only Lin Shenlu remained, sitting quietly in a wicker chair in the courtyard.

He took a pink notebook from his pocket.

He hadn’t written anything for days.

Dali Stories: 7. The Ideal Utopia of Santorini. The Wishing Pool at Whale and Deer Hotel.

Only with such an ending could it be called perfect.

—

The completion of the wishing pool was, in Lin Shenlu’s mind, one of the highlights of his travels.

It was exactly what he had hoped for.

A place truly carrying hope and stories.

Everything on the surface was meaningless.

Dali wasn’t about taking the scenery away, but about leaving your heart behind.

On this silent night, Hailan Whale, dressed in white, walked across the ground strewn with wishes and sat beside Lin Shenlu by the wishing pool.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Lin Shenlu shook his head.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. I was simply fulfilling a wish of my own. If anything, I should thank you for giving a stranger you’ve only just met the chance to transform your wishing pool,” he replied with a smile.

“If you really were a stranger, I wouldn’t have let you do it. This is a place I’ve protected for years. You know, Lin Shenlu, in my heart, I feel like we’ve known each other for a long time—years, even… Your arrival… it’s as if you’re merging with the Lin Shenlu I once held in my heart…” Hailan Whale hesitated.

Lin Shenlu knew what she wanted to say.

“So, how is the merging going? Is this Lin Shenlu any different from the one in your heart?” he asked with a smile.

Hailan Whale fell silent, unsure how to express herself.

These past days, she’d grown used to having Lin Shenlu bustling around the hotel.

Just as she had said, Lin Shenlu didn’t feel like someone who’d only just arrived.

In her heart, it was as if he had been here for years, always at the hotel, just not busy until now.

That was the feeling Hailan Whale had always longed for.

“Now that the wishing pool is finished, I can finally relax. Let me tell you what comes next,” Lin Shenlu said.

“What comes next? Lin Shenlu… are you leaving?” Hailan Whale was stunned.

He… how could he leave?

“Why? Are you planning to come with me?” Lin Shenlu smiled.

“We just finished the wishing pool. This is your emotional anchor here, the place you’ve always protected. As for what to do next, I’ll give you a detailed plan. Trust me, in a few months this place will surely be the hottest spot in Dali. You might even hit ten million followers!” Lin Shenlu lit a cigarette.

“As for me, I’ll always have to leave… I’m a free traveler, after all.”